Agenda item

The Leader invited Members to share any briefings.

The Cabinet Member for Waste Services, Recycling and Public Realm shared two items:

-       after concern from the public, the council and the Civic Society, Gloucestershire County Council as highways authority agreed to an on-site meeting about the resurfacing of the Promenade, as a result of which the proposed works have been halted, allowing stakeholders time to find and discuss alternatives.  This is a good opportunity for the county to collaborate with CBC, BID, the Civic Society and the wider public for a more appropriate solution which respects the heritage and public realm at the same time allowing vibrant markets and events to continue;

-       he has spent four hours earlier today planting trees at Burrows Field, together with the CBC greenspace team, the Mayor, the local ward councillor and volunteers, including children from Leckhampton High School, participating as part of their Eco Day.  It was good to see them getting involved and learning about greenspace, trees, and improving wildlife habitat.  He thanked Mark Beaney of Leckhampton Rovers for organising and all the volunteers, who like many others around the borough work so hard to maintain and improve our greenspace.

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities also had two items to share:

-       from a community perspective, she was delighted to have attended the recent relaunch of Cheltenham Churches Together at Bethesda, which brings together many different community groups and church organisations to collaborate and share information;

-       from a safety perspective, she and the Chair of Licensing, Councillor Willingham, have written a letter to Jess Phillips MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, requesting that she takes another look at the loophole in the licensing of sexual entertainment venues, which impacts on Cheltenham during race events, and inviting her to Cheltenham to discuss the matter in more detail.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services said she had been invited to the Strasbourg Congress of the Council of Europe to speak about the safety of women and what can be done to improve matters.  She spoke about the huge amount of work that Cheltenham does, such as working with schools and colleges, and offering training for bar and club staff,  and challenged those present to come together to learn from our example about what can be done to make a difference.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Wellbeing and Culture was happy to report that he had signed off the final list of health and wellbeing grants, largely funded by the local NHS and based on good medical evidence about the issues facing Cheltenham.  Some of the very worthwhile projects to be supported include:

-       Let’s Cook with Josie at Ridge Academy in Whaddon;

-       the Archie Matthews Trust, dealing with young men’s mental health;

-       the Art for All project, which uses art to tackle isolation and mental health;

-       the Everyman Theatre Centre Stage Arts for social impact in West Cheltenham;

-       Young Gloucestershire, which helps young people at risk of exploitation;

-       Men in Sheds, which tackles isolation and uses practical skills;

-       Home-Start North and West Gloucestershire, for young mums facing mental health challenges. 

He thanked Richard Gibson for all his work, the local Director of Public health, and other NHS colleagues, saying that this is a good example of local knowledge and ideas from the community helping to create some amazing projects and tackle difficult issues.

The Leader reported a busy month, and highlighted an annual event she recently attended at Gloucester Cathedral, to celebrate the county’s legal system and declare the new High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.  She attended in her capacity as Leader of CBC and also as a magistrate for the last 37 years.  The outgoing High Sheriff presented an award to magistrates for 25 years of mock trials which have engaged young people and brought together schools from across the county; CBC’s council chamber has been used for these events.  The new High Sheriff is Julie Kent, who is well known in Cheltenham, and will support charities across Gloucestershire.

She ended by thanking Councillor Horwood, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Wellbeing and Culture (and formerly Cabinet Member for Customer and Regulatory Services) for his three years’ service on the Cabinet.  He will step down on 12 May to take on the role of Deputy Mayor.